Dim question

This isn't the first dim question that I've asked here and I'm sure it won't be the last.
As you know I am currently writing book 2 (NRIMH) and I wondered what state that should be in when I submit it to my publisher. Its not really a question I suppose because I know what state it will be in when I submit  it but I've been reading a lot lately (well a bit at least) how some authors submit their books (and I'm not talking first books here)  to their agents, publishers or whoever and they come back for a sometimes total over-hall. I suppose my question is do I treat it as I did the first one or at least what do you guys do?

Catching up

Anyone who follows me on FB will know that book number 2 has been finished for a while - well the first draft anyway and the revisions are well under way. I am happy (ish) with the way that the revisions are coming along but I am occasionally riddled with self doubt. Is it any good and all that sort of thing. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.
In other news, Book number 1 has been renamed. It was BTL and is now TISHSaD. I am okay with that because BTL was only ever a working title. I got an email from my editor the other day with the proposed cover, It is really pretty but I'm not sure its what I was expecting. That's not to say that I don't like it because I do - I just didn't get it at first. After a couple of days I now understand what the designers were aiming for.
For years you guys here and my dear friend Jan were the only people that knew that I wrote and now I am having to tell people in the outside world. I am no longer writing just for me. Anyway yesterday I told my boss not because I think I'll be giving up the day job any time soon but because when it comes to promoting the book the fact that I work for a charity might be mentioned so I thought I should warn her. I now have to tell someone further up the pecking order as well so I'll drop them an email next week. I showed her the cover picture that is on my phone and my hand was shaking - it's ridiculous.
Today in my number 2 son's birthday so happy birthday AT.
What else? well I had a couple of days in Blackpool last week when I went for a conference and it was freezing - especially when you were dressed up as a flapper. God knows what the tram conductor thought when we got on the tram, Having said that, I dare say he's used to it in Blackpool.
So that's about it really, life is plodding along quite nicely - work - revisions - work - revisions - nothing much to tell you which is one of the reasons that I haven't been around for a while.
One last thing - next Tuesday is the 3rd anniversary of my kidneys packing in and having my first dialysis session. Well actually the dialysis is probably Wednesday because it happened in the middle of the night. Lot of water under the bridge since then.
So if you can bear the mundane I'll be back soon.

Maybe next time.

I am such a bad blogger. Sorry blog, I have neglected you.
So what's happened since the last time we spoke? Well the day job continues apace and the night job (well evening rather than night) is keeping me busy too. All in all very busy.
Book number 2 (NRIMH) is almost at the end of the first draft. This excites me because I want to get on to the revisions. As I've been writing I've been thinking that this needs changing or that needs rewriting so I want to get on with that. I gave myself the deadline of the first draft being finished by April 30th so we're looking on course for that.
What else? Well the new sofa I mentioned in my past post has settled in quite nicely. The dog doesn't have as much room to spread out as he did with the last one but he manages - usually by laying on someone.
This is day 2 of 4 off work and I've impressed myself by writing 2.5k words this morning though I don't know how some of you write all day. I'm shattered.
I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself but I've registered for PLR. I need to look into the Society of Authors too as  lovely fellow author who has helped me right from the beginning suggested I do and I trust her judgement.
That's it I think. I really can't think of anything else that has happened in the last month - not that might remotely interest you anyway.
I will try to be more interesting next time.

Hack at Heart

I'm well into the first draft of NRIMH but I was a bit lost about where it was going. Thanks to a proverbial lightning strike  though I now know where I'm going with it which excites me because I want to get on with it and frustrates me because I'm really busy with the day job so I can't get to write as much as I would like.
I sent a short story off the other day - its a long tome since I had any success in that department. I thought just after I got the contract that maybe I should give up on the short stories and concentrate on the book but the truth is that I always saw myself writing different things and no just fiction. I really enjoy researching non fiction too. Hell I've even been known to write the odd poem. I think I'm just a hack at heart. 
On a different note we had a new sofa delievered today which is well overdue. So what if the old one was a but shabby? It was so darned comfy.

What to do

I'm reading a book at the minute that's set in "Dickensian" England and when I was a few pages in I declared (out loud) that it was written by an American. Nothing wrong with that. The give away was that a character got his "check book" out. Turns out I was right (just call me Sherlock) and the book is written by a group of journalists from the New York Times that "love"  that period. So I'm still reading this book because I am interested in what happens but I am constantly on the look out for more "Americanisms". Today's was when a character put something in the pocket of his pants. Oh I should have said that the story is told in the first person by an English gentleman. He would not say pants. However, the biggest faux pas (so far - still a hundred pages to go) was when they said that the nursery rhyme line "and pretty maids all in a row" has something to do with the killing of Lady Jane Grey. Well it may well be because I've got no idea but I do know that it wasn't Mary Queen of Scots that was responsible for it. Wrong person methinks. Part of me wants to email them and point out these things like the "English rose" who describes some bloke as a prick but another part of me tells me to behave and just enjoy the story.

Quick chat

Oh my its nippy.
Just thought I'd pop over and say hello.
I'm on holiday next week and just have to work tomorrow but that'll be an ok sort of day so given that I'm not doing a lot today its like being in holiday already. I did grocery shopping this morning, then a bit of ironing, I've caught up with some admin and got about 500 "new" words down on NRMIH so I'm feeling very chilled. Going to have a cup of tea and watch last night's "Elementary" before meeting up with Himself for a late lunch though you could probably call it tea because I don't think I'll want to eat again later. Hey this body can afford to miss a meal. especially after the other day when I had to sent a photo of myself of to the publisher. I mean I'm not HUGE but I could do with dropping a pound or two. The steroids make that progress slow but I'll give it a go.
Not much else to report this week. Life is jogging along quite nicely. The day job is tickety boo and the night job will hopefully come along better this week. There were other things that needed to be done last week, connected to the book but not actual writing so I know the 500 words I mentioned earlier don't sound like a lot but I'm easing my way in gently.
Anyway must go. Johnny Lee Miller is calling my name as is the tea pot.

Volunteers required

Hello everyone (grovel grovel) I have been asked to provide names of fellow bloggers who would be prepared to host me on a blog tour to promote BTL. I didn't want to suggest anyone without asking first so that's what I'm doing now. Hands up anyone who would like to volunteer. If you'd rather email me than reply here my email address is colettemccormick@yahoo.co.uk.
Many thanks in advance.

Oh no...

I've been asked to provide a recent photograph of myself and as anyone will tell you I detest having my photo taken. I rarely have it taken and like very few of the ones that are.
Not to worry that's a problem for another day. Himself and I are going out for the (late) afternoon followed by early dinner and then off to see a "turn."
A good day. 

Secret's finally out

I thought of how I could tell my friends that didn't know that I wrote about my book and I decided that the "just spit it out and let them deal with it" approach was best - so that's what I did. I have to say that everyone has been so supportive, some were really interested, some wanted to know what the book was about and one wanted to know why I kept my ambition a secret. The answer I gave him was that if people that I actually physically know ie. colleagues, neighbours etc. didn't know then I wasn't putting pressure on myself to succeed all the while I got love and support from the like minded souls that I'd met in cyber-land. Best of both worlds really.
I'm at a bot of a loss at the moment. I'm working hard on NRIMH but I don't know what happens now to BTL. I imagine that my baby is out there being primped and prepared to go out in the world but I don't know how the publishing thing works. I'm sure they are looking after my baby but just like my sons I'd like to hear about them/from them from time to time.

News

When I first started this blog, many years ago when Adam was a lad and dinosaurs still walked the earth, it was called "Gonna be a Writer" and my plan was in the title. I always said that I would never consider myself a writer until I was doing it properly and to do that (in my opinion for me personally) was to write enough short stories/articles to earn a living at it or to have a book contract. Today I can finally (in my own words) call myself a writer because today I signed a 3 book deal with Accent Press. It's like a full circle because Accent Press published the first story of mine that I ever saw in print when they included "Elaine" in an anthology called "Sexy Shorts for the Beach" whose profits went to Cancer Research UK who I was working for at the time.

Almost no-one that I know in the "real" world knows that I write so this might come as a shock to them. I would really appreciate any advice any of you can give me.

Sounding off

I know editors are busy people, and I know that they are dealing with more people than just me so I understand that you have to be patient. I hate it when I have to remind them of something or give them a nudge which is stupid really because in my job when someone reminds me of something I haven't done I don't take it personally. I usually just think "Oh sod!" Okay so its not personal and I'll get in touch. Having said that maybe I should give them a bit longer to get over Christmas.
Thank you dear blog friends for once again being my sounding board. "Chatting" to you has once again put things in perspective.
On a different note I have a cold though it does seem a but better today though I am barking like a dog. I'll keep an eye on it because if you remember my "problem" started as a cold but I think I'll be ok and the last time I saw my nephrologist he said that I would still get colds.
Other than that, not a lot has been happening round here  - apart from rain. Dear God  am sick of it. Thankfully for us all that has been flooded around here is a few roads its just a pain that they are the roads between home and work.

Off and running

Less than 11 hours into the new year and I've done 2 hours (give or take a minute) of actual writing. Not checking emails or surfing the web but actual writing. Current project is 30k words long and want it finished by the end of April which is a deadline that is subject to change but the one I'm working at the moment.
Don't make resolutions as such any more because I hate the feeling of failure when I don't lose 4 stones or learn a new language though I do like a "to do" list and one of my things "to do" today was to wish you al a very happy new year.
Good luck for 2016 everyone.
 x

Looking forward to 2016

Once again I have to apologise for being such a bad blogger. My only excuse is that I haven't had a lot to tell. Still haven't but I thought that I would check in before the end of the year.
I've been spending much of my time just sort of coming to terms with what happened in the summer and I am feeling better now. I'll miss them forever and do so every day but I have learned to live with it because it is the natural way of things.
On the writing front I have been working on NRIMH and that currently sits at around 28k words. The last few days have been a bit tricky because I've written and deleted several times but I think that I am finally happy with what I wrote last night so I can now move on.
I bought my self a pink laptop to go along with the pink pen and even a pink diary to set deadlines in. Think there's a bit of an obsession forming.
So its that time of year again and I gave up making resolutions years ago but I will say this. Personally 2015 has been horrible or rather the latter half of 2015 has been horrible but in the writing front its not been so bad. Not a lot has been published but I have got the love back and I m writing more than I have in years. I have to put what happened behind me and moving forward to 2016 I feel pretty good.
In case I don't get back before tomorrow night - happy New Year everyone.
x

Help with information

I haven't been here for a while but thank you everyone for your kindness during the last few weeks. It has meant so much to me.
I'm here today to ask for help with some information.
Can anyone who has experience with book contracts tell me what should be in one.
I need to know this for a writing project that I have going on at the moment and having no experience of one I have to ask the question.
thanks in advance
x

Parents

Some of you may already know this but for those that don't, since I was here a few weeks ago I have lost both of my parents. My dad died 4 weeks ago today but we couldn't bury him until this last Wednesday. That was the day that my mum died. She hasn't been well for a bit, hasn't got over my dad's passing (they had been married 65 years) and had been in hospital since last Saturday. I got to her on Monday and as we sat she held my hand and told me how much she loved me and how proud she was and regaled the woman in the bed opposite with tales of "what this child of mine has been through."
Dad died very suddenly and without any warning. He'd had a really good day went to bed and died. At least with Mum we got the chance to say goodbye. My sister, brother and I ran to her bedside after Dad's funeral and were with her all afternoon, holding her hand, talking to her, stroking her hair, anything we could just to be in contact with her for a s long as possible. We all knew what was happening even her and she was happy. She was going to my dad, her beloved Johnny who she had been apart from too long even though it had only been 23 days.
I just wish they could have lived a bit longer but they already know. They don't need me to tell them anything now.

Soon

I haven't been around much because there was something I wanted to say and I couldn't. I still can't but will be able to soon.

What is it about August?`

I'm feeling in quite a reflective mood this morning so I thought I'd have a look at what I was blogging about in the past at this time of year. I thought I'd go back to the beginning which was 2007. Turns out I was filled with fear and terror about that "dark stuff" that was happening and was actually the worst time of my life.
So I thought I'd go to last year - I'd just found out that Himself was not a compatible match with me so couldn't donate a kidney. That actually was quite pleasing for me but he was very disappointed - like he had let me down some way. Just as well though that it turned out that way given that I got enough kidney function back in November to come of dialysis and am still going strong 9 months later.
I didn't bother going to the year before because that was when I was just out of hospital and I wasn't doing much more than sitting in a chair in August 2013.
I thought I'd give the rest a miss because I'd had enough of reflecting.
This August its my mum who has her own health issues which is not surprising given that she's 85 but she's having a test on Tuesday and fingers crossed its not what she fears the most. Logic tells me that its not but as we all know when you are the one in the situation logic doesn't come close to cutting it.
Think I might give August a miss from now on.

As promised....

...I am back sooner this time. It's only weeks I've been away this time not months.

Summer seems to be doing what Summer does and pass by at an alarming rate of knots. I heard in the news this week that Selfridges has got their Christmas department up and running and I think I heard that ADSA were selling Christmas trees. Ridiculous!!!

My mum has had a health scare which has been at the front of my mind for the best part of two weeks and we won't know if she's out of the woods for a few more so fingers crossed.

I had an email a couple of weeks ago from an editor who was rejecting the article that I had submitted but wanted to see some other examples of my "style" so that they could decide if we would be a "good fit" or not. That was about 10 days ago and I haven't heard anything so I guess I didn't set their world on fire with my prowess. Do I leave it a while and ask or just leave it? That has just reminded me that some time ago I was asked to submit an article to a specialist magazine by an editor who said that they were interested in my pitch. They said that they would look at the space available (the article was a bot long at around 4,000 words) and I haven't heard from them either. Maybe I should give them a nudge too. I appreciate that editors are busy people but, well, without putting too fine a point on it so am I.

Don't worry

Its been a while - well a couple of months anyway. This has been due to there not being much to say. Well no, that's not true actually its due to me having other stuff that just got in the way. Mundane every day stuff that just gets in the way.

Just thought I'd drop in to say that I am still fine. I didn't want anyone worrying that I was ill again. Will not many days in July left I'm hopeful of getting through this one without a spell in hospital;. I saw my nephrologist a month or so ago and he sais that while he can't guarantee that I'll be off dialysis until I get my telegram from the Queen in the short term he doesn't see any problems and that my function has settled at around 25% which is more than enough (his words not mine).

I'll be back sooner next time.

Small Comfort

I had my first rejection in ages today. Not because I've enjoyed a remarkable success rate but because I haven't really been submitting. It came from a magazine that has rejected me more than once before but at least I got a letter this time telling me why it had been rejected rather than just a compliment slip. Small comfort I know.
Think I had a story called that published once. No hang on a minute that was Small Difference.